ANIMALS 3, 4 & 5

Am gonna pick up a little steam now so perhaps the next update will show you all the area hooked and tell you what I've named the pattern.  Must admit I'm not happy with the colors chosen for this cat even tho I tried to get close to that in the antique.  

The original showed white in the space between the legs and above the tail.  But since I gave the cat a white chest thought that might not work.  So will pull that wool out and use the background color surrounding the cat to see if that works.  If it doesn't work,  the red outline would overpower that area.  Sure don't want to pull all the wool out of the kitty cat but will be forced to make some sort of change.

Here are two more for you cat lovers.  OOPS, I see some loops have been pulled out around the the dark cat so will have to remedy that when put back on the frame.  And remember, I'm not trying to make this look like a newly produced rug, so am using some of my overdyed dirtied up stuff.

Am so SICK of snow which has been hanging around for over a week.  It is frozen humps in areas of the yard which doesn't see sun.  My back deck is piled high with the frozen stuff that can't be shoveled as it's like a humongous block of ice.  Hopefully the warm up, slight warm up, in the next couple days will rid me of this mess.

Haven't gone out to see how much propane is left in the tank from the delivery with two weeks of constant propane use.  However, it sure is a warmer heat.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

VALENTINE RUG IDEAS

Do you have a hankering to hook a valentine rug?  There's one month until Valentine's Day so here are a few photos for inspiration.  Over the years I've posted many rugs with hearts but didn't post all of them here tonight.  You could always type heart rugs in my search engine at the top and perhaps others not shown here will appear.

First up is the 8 point star with hearts and diamonds.  If you think the border is 'too in your face' you could make the border more narrow or eliminate that border all together.  Auction house said it was hooked 19th century and measures 38.5 x 50.

Red central hearts with hit and miss heart border and background.  Me thinks all that hit and miss is a little overkill so you could take some creative license with that heart border.  No date was provided.

This is an antique antique rug measuring 32 x 52 and said to be hooked between 1880-1910.  I drew a pattern and hooked it as I loved the blotchy background.

Dated March 6, 1931 is a huge heart with chickens, rabbit and dog.

A familiar rug with hearts is this 1875 design.  Original measures 41 x 34.  I've always considered hooking it but haven't yet.

This geometric with hearts and star was on display at Sauder I think in 2023.  I hooked it, not this one but an adaptation of this antique.

Horses and hearts rug was hooked late 19th century.

Hearts and 8 point stars with the date 1911.

Just found this blue heart rug on FB but not impressed.

If you like applique, this one has hearts, pennies, hands and deer.  I'm personally not a fan of applique ~ tried it, sold one that was the end of that.  Date unknown.

Alternative ideas would be the two leather pincushions made in 19th century.

Or you could hook a heart pillow, several little hearts and place them in a basket.  Over the years I've posted numerous other antique rugs with hearts as the theme.  Here is a heart freebie once offered by Shirley Hudson in an old blog.  You can check out her most recent blog HERE. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ANIMAL NUMBER TWO

Unlike Noah's Ark my animals are entering one at a time, not two by two.  Not to worry though, you'll eventually see the whole rug and the antique from which I've drawn the design.  So stay tuned.

I'm sick of this snow which has stayed around far too long.  It has not been a good week and won't get better until sometime next week.  There is a problem with my garage door as it won't open electronically.  At first it was an intermittent problem and I'd use the manual pull cord to open then once returned home would push the door up until it connected.  Next time it would open but perhaps not close.  Now there is no sensor light on one side and I'm stuck in the garage.

Of course I could use the cord again but the last time I exhausted myself trying to get the door to connect at the top and had to call my loyal neighbor.  I was frightened of having a stroke due to frustration and over-exertion and don't want to take a chance again.

I called the the company and left a message but don't know when they can get here to fix it.  God forbid there's an emergency where I need to leave immediately.

If that isn't inconvenience enough, my septic tank needs to be emptied and cannot flush the toilets; or rather they won't flush out.  So that causes yet another major inconvenience and make-do situation.  The septic tank was emptied 1 year 2 months ago, way too early to require another empty with just one resident.  Usually a family of 4 would only need to have the tank emptied every 2-3 years.

And, of course can't do laundry.  I do take showers and wash dishes by hand as those don't require a machine full of water going thru the pipes.  Have also called the septic removal company and they can't come until next Friday the 17th.  Unless the snow melts by then they will have to go thru the snow before getting to the tank lid.  So another annoyance with humiliating conditions will last several more days.  

To keep my calm I say to myself "this too shall pass".  And think of this nuisance as how my paternal grandparents lived so certainly I can survive a week or more. 

Time for me to settle back and pull a few more loops so there will be more animals to share in my next post.

Saundra

NEW YEAR NEW OLD RUG SHOW

The first antique rug show of 2025 and will start off with a tree shaped flower in a pot.  Hooked 19th century and measures 35 x 42.

An owl on a limb with what seems to be initials in the flowers in the four corners.  No date was provided.

A basket of flowers dated 19th century, 30 x 46.5.

I love this rug with carriage horses but have no other info sadly.

An oval shaggy rug with tongues.

The backside of that rug.

Roosters and tulips, no date but it measures 18 x 36.

A soiled but attractive dog and cat rug.  Don't have a date but it measures 25 x 57.  I'd really rather have a date, lol.

Sure wish I had access to dates rugs are hooked to ensure they are in public domain to reproduce.  I like this horse rug below with the geometric corner.   It appears the hooker was going for a duplicate of the right side but ran out of sky color so used what was available to finish the job.

Birds, deer and lollipop flower center with busy hit and miss background.

Just can't end with the busy rug so here is a 1910 horse hooked with what I think is crochet.  

Take a look at the view below and see if it is crochet which was used to hook it.  See the dainty scalloped edge?  Sure looks like crochet to me.

Received my bolt of linen yesterday so will get busy drawing a pattern for someone and get it in the mail today before new snow arrives this evening on top of what is already STILL here.

Saundra

I'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

In full disclosure, my new project is another long one so I will be showing only one motif.  Don't want to give the entire pattern away right off the bat as it is more interesting anticipating what is next.  It is another antique adaptation and am as excited to work on this one as I was Animal Parade. 

Temperatures remain below freezing so my backup propane heat has been working overtime to keep the house warm.  Last Friday I called for a tank refill and the company's delivery in Seaford is Tuesdays.  By 4 p.m. yesterday the truck hadn't arrived so I called to inquire.  Due to the weather (understandable) the truck will refill my tank sometime today.

Also, a UPS delivery has been delayed and am sure my bolt of linen will succumb to the same situation.  Saturday's upcoming storm isn't looking good for this area either.  But at least we're not seeing the devastating wild fires California is experiencing right now.  God bless them and keep them out of harm's way.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/woodlandjunctionHookedRugs

WINTER SNOW

That predicted white stuff is here.  At 10:30 this morning the local news said Seaford had 5" accumulation.  It is still snowing and said to not stop until after midnight tonight.  

There has been another weather update with increased snow levels expected.  Notice I am now in the 7-14" area and already the local radio station says Seaford already has 5".  That from the state highway spokesperson.  Wouldn't be surprised at all if there is another update later today.

Here are a few snapshots I took this morning around 8 a.m.  You can see the collection of snow on top of my birdbath on the left side.  Saturday I went out to place my orange yard markers along the driveway and along the road out front.  Tomorrow I'm supposed to get a delivery of propane and will assist the driver to see where my driveway is.  And, for those who may be kind enough to clear my driveway will be a guide for them.

Should have thought ahead and put out all my bird feeders as I'll probably have to trek thru the snow to put up more food for my feathered friends.

During freezing rain or snowfall, I place a stick along one corner of my recycle and trash containers so they won't freeze shut.

I did venture out to put up an additional birdfeeder and refill one already there.  The snow I walked thru was up to mid-calf and still snowing.  When I returned inside noticed a very kind neighbor was snow blowing my driveway. 

Am planning to hunker down and pull some loops on my next wonderful primitive project.  Nothing to show here now but will in a day or two.  Stay home, stay warm and cuddle up to enjoy whatever craft or book you enjoy.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

ALMOST MADE IT (weather update)

Just 4 days into 2025 and Magdalena's Animal Parade is finally all hooked; not steamed but it is hooked.  If only I'd worked on it a little more each day for the last couple weeks I could have had it finished in 2024.

The rug is so long I couldn't see what was being captured in the photo and I don't stand on chairs or any type ladders any longer unless I have one hand on something to steady me.  Therefore the rug isn't straight.

So next comes the cleanup and have a pattern to draw for someone and my next one.  However, there is that plus one I drew but will need to do the wool clean up before that one can even get started.

Am making vegetable soup and it smells good.  Will certainly be yummy in the tummy when the the winter storm hits.  Last night we did get some rain and a dusting of snow.  The screenshot below shows what is coming.  You can see that Seaford (on the right) is in the 4-8" snowfall area.  What will actually drop, who knows.  I'm ready and hope my power stays on so I can heat up my soup, lol.

WEATHER UPDATE:  The storm has been upgraded and I'm now in  the 6-10" of snow from 4-8.

Below is the previous prediction.  So guess it is the luck of the draw.

Guess I'd better go stir the soup, pour myself a glass of wine and get ready to separate the wooly worms into their proper colored baggies. Have a great Saturday evening.

Saundra

RUG REVIEW OF 2024

This post is to share pics of rugs hooked in 2024.  The first finished rug last January was an antique adaptation of Reclining Lamb which was started early November 2023 in a class with Caroline Twigg.  After returning home I reverse hooked most of the wool in the body of the sheep so the rug wasn't completely hooked until January 14th 2024.  And later bound.

The next adaptation was Lone Stag and Star.  

For some reason I became enamored with a hit and miss antique rug displayed at Sauder ~ Star and Hearts which I had to hook.

Fox frequent my yard often and see them sometimes drinking from the water bucket I keep outside for deer.  Fox are beautiful creatures so when seeing the 1922 antique version it was the next pattern on my frame. 

By now you know what makes my heart skip a beat ... a horse of course.  So Running Horse was next.  And for those of you wondering, the red in the horse's neck and mane was in the original antique.

You wouldn't know which antique rug this next adaptation was taken from unless I showed it to you, as it looks nothing like the original.  Coming up with a name for it was difficult as I thought the original was as ugly as a junk yard dog.  Yeah, part of a phrase taken from Jim Croce's song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".  Must admit it's not my favorite rug.

This next one I did enjoy hooking and am pleased with the finish.  It's another antique adaptation named Bird on Tree Stump.

Dog with Basket was the project taken to Cape May and color planned by Lucille Festa.  Lucille used every piece of my wool taken to camp.  I kept telling her to make suggestions from her wonderful selection but she continued to use mine.  Of course I still did buy some of her wonderful overdyed 'dirty muddy' wool.   The wool used in the dog I'd never have thought to use but Lucille did and think it looks great.  All the wool were odd pieces taken just in case they could be used for something.  

Well this next one seemed like a good idea at the time.  It, too, is an antique adaptation, not one of my favorites either, but it did turn out quite like the antique.

Although hooking on the sunflower started around March 2024, I didn't finish it until November so it would be ready as a Christmas gift to my DIL.  Unfortunately I neglected to take a photo after it was stitched closed.  Cathy, my DIL, was over the moon happy with this as one of her gifts and reminded me that she LOVES sunflowers.  Guess that was a hint for future gift giving.

Guess you are surprised not to see Magdalena's Animal Parade as another finished in 2024.  Me too.  But it will be finished soon and will be among those shown next year in the 2025 rug review.

Happy New Year.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MOVING FORWARD

In a couple days we will be stepping into a new year.  A few decades ago I'd already have purchased my New Year's outfit and looking with anticipation to dancing the night away.  I'd be present when the countdown at midnight took place ~ that was then.  Now I'm quite content welcoming in the new year behind closed eyelids.  

More than likely it will take me a while getting use to writing 2025 on checks and other documents.  Will need to transfer appointments scribbled on notepads to the new calendar and birthday reminders in there as well.  Eventually all will be working rhythmically like the year before.

I am not superstitious yet I have already purchased the ingredients for my southern 'good luck' black eyed peas meal.  It was a tradition for my mother and so it continues.  Some folks do a lentil soup and sauerkraut meal.  Frankly I love sauerkraut, but will stick with my mother's tradition. 

Last year I made a boxed Jiffy corn bread recipe and it was very dry.  Years ago I'd make cornpone, which is moist and delicious but takes too much time and I want it in a 'Jiffy'.  Thought Janice suggested something she does and I've written her to confirm but haven't heard from her.  Does anyone have suggestions on doctoring up a package of Jiffy mix so it isn't as dry? 

Finally, I no longer make New Year's resolutions because rarely do I stick to them.  Now I just try to do better in the coming year.  How are you preparing for the New Year?  Any resolutions?

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. OLD RUGS

A few more days until the end of the year and HOPEFULLY my Magdalena Animal Parade will be done by then.  At least I'm hoping the hooking will be complete even if the binding isn't.  Okay, let's get this show on the road, shall we?

A gorgeous yarn sewn and shirred hearth rug circa 1835.  Am sure it took a while to sew this 29 x 52 rug.

Dated between 1868-1899 (according to the auction house) is the 3 & 5 lobed floral rug with braided edge.  The braided edge has survived well but the inside shows wear and fading.  But there was no view of the back to confirm that it was faded or if light textiles were used.

The auction house named this a DoDo bird.  It was hooked circa 1930 but doesn't resemble the DoDo bird at all I don't think.  If you want to learn more about the bird check it out HERE.

These white flowers resemble popcorn, me thinks.  No date was provided but dimensions are 38 x 40.  

Ship Mary of New York.  I don't know if there was a sailing ship named that but someone hooked it and it appears to have been well loved.

A view of the back to see true colors albeit also soiled.

Said to be hooked in the 19th century is the 8-point stars rug.  Its dimensions are 26 x 37.  Am wondering if those are some type of leaf I'm not familiar with at the bottom or something else.

Don't know how old this next rug is but thought it was cute when perusing eBay.  Mother cat and kittens with their mittens hanging on the line and using that theme as a beauty line ~ sweet.

A prancing horse, yellow bird and flowers hooked early 20th century.

This pinwheel shaped flower on the 18th century stitched pocketbook would make a great hooked rug.

This horse rug doesn't look antique to me and wonder why they put a frame around it.  In  my humble opinion think it distracts from the rug.

Here is a close up of the frame and portion of the rug.

Just couldn't end the post with that horse rug so will post something else to leave you wondering.  Sure wish I could have viewed the entire rug of this 1861 hooked cats rug.  It probably had a full border of scallops but would still liked to see the entire thing.  

After my errand run will settle in and work on my hooking project.  Gotta pick up a little speed if I want it completely hooked in 4 more days.  Happy hooking to you.

Saundra